August is for Kingsley- Held In Hope

Kingsley’s story comes through the heart of a dear friend of mine.

On April 13, 2018, she finally put into writing something that had been stirring in her heart for years: she felt God calling her to care for children in foster care. It was a dream she had quietly carried, but one she never imagined God would actually ask her to step into—especially in that season of life.

In her journal that day she wrote, “Lord, change my heart. God, it seems impossible.”

A little over a year later, in August, 2019, she and her husband arrived at a Hospital in Erie for their very first introduction to a tiny baby boy named Kingsley. He was perfect. She had never held such a small, delicate child before, and she instantly fell in love. Her husband watched her cradling him for the first time and said with a knowing smile, “Oh no. We’re in trouble.”

He could already see what was unfolding—this little boy was going to capture their hearts in a way that would change them forever.

But neither of them could have anticipated just how many times, and in how many ways, their hearts would break for Kingsley. His journey has been full of highs and lows, moments of deep joy intertwined with seasons of uncertainty. His life has been marked by back-and-forths and unknowns, a constant reminder that we have no real control over our lives—but that God does, and His plan is perfect even when we cannot see it.

Through it all, they have clung to this promise: “The Lord will fight for you; you need only be still” (Exodus 14:14).

One special detail about Kingsley is his love for sea turtles. Sea turtles journey blind, trusting, and simply moving toward the light of the moon. His story is much the same—walking forward in faith, not knowing what lies ahead, but trusting that the light of the Lord will lead him home.